Print

Cotton Candy Cookies Recipe

4.4 from 140 reviews

Delightfully whimsical Cotton Candy Cookies that combine soft, buttery texture with pastel pink and blue hues, enhanced with subtle cotton candy flavor and optional sprinkles for a fun and festive treat perfect for parties or a sweet indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp almond extract

Coloring and Flavoring

  • Pink food coloring, a few drops
  • Blue food coloring, a few drops
  • Cotton candy flavoring (optional), adjust to taste

Decorations

  • Sprinkles (optional), for decoration

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute all the leavening agents and seasoning.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
  4. Add Egg and Extracts: Beat in the large egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the creamed butter and sugar until fully incorporated, building the flavorful base of the dough.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and producing tough cookies.
  6. Color the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts. Add pink food coloring to one half and blue food coloring to the other. Optionally mix in cotton candy flavoring to either or both dough halves to enhance the cotton candy taste.
  7. Form Cookies: Take small amounts of each colored dough and gently combine or swirl them together, then form into small balls and place them spaced on the prepared baking sheet.
  8. Add Decorations: Optionally, sprinkle the tops of each dough ball with sprinkles for a colorful and festive appearance.
  9. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden but the centers remain soft, ensuring a tender texture.
  10. Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, preventing breakage and enhancing flavor development.

Notes

  • Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
  • Adjust cotton candy flavoring according to your taste preference to avoid overpowering the cookie.
  • For the best texture, use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming with sugar.
  • If you want more vibrant colors, add food coloring a drop at a time until desired intensity is reached.
  • Sprinkles are optional but add a playful touch and extra sweetness.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.

Keywords: Cotton Candy Cookies, colorful cookies, pink and blue cookies, soft cookies, party cookies, fun dessert, sweet treats